Teens age 12-17 have an overwhelming influence on their parents’ purchasing decisions, according to a study by YouGov. These include household product decisions: 75 percent of parents’ apparel choices, 78 percent of home entertainment content and 63 percent of cleaning supplies purchases are influenced by the teenager. Even more influential, 95 percent of teens influence which fast food restaurant to eat at, 93 percent make recreational entertainment choices and 90 percent choose which apparel stores for the family to shop in.

What’s the big deal about Millennial Moms anyway? According to babycenter, there are nine million of them in the U.S., and they yield about $170-200 billion in spending power. Millennial Moms are a big deal.  

The ultimate goal for every business is to turn customers into brand evangelists who will sing the praises of the company to anyone willing to hear. But short of that, each business should be looking to convert satisfied customers to be online reviewers.

At this year’s PRSA Volunteer Chapter V Awards, our CEO Kelly Fletcher was presented with the  Gary McCormick Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the Volunteer Chapter and the public relations profession over the last 20 years. Kelly embodies all that is a lifetime of achievement as an inspiring entrepreneur and leader.

Consumers are rejecting traditional marketing strategies and are turning to social media when deciding whether a product or service is reliable. In turn, businesses have been forced to evolve quickly and adopt new marketing strategies to be able to reach today’s consumers.  

As the Creative Director, I’m preaching about the power of color.

Color is the personification of emotion. When you consider how color relates to branding efforts, it is important to start by asking, “How do I want my customer to feel about my product or service?” This will help guide you to the right colors.

Marketing your product or service is competitive these days, regardless of your field or industry. Brands are grappling for what sets them apart. What is their unique selling proposition, or what is their “secret sauce?”  

Fletcher Marketing PR staff had the pleasure of attending the Women's Fund of East Tennessee's 6^th annual luncheon last Thursday afternoon. Set in between serene gardens with a lakefront view, women from all walks of Knoxville gathered to celebrate the organization and raise donations for low-income women and girls in need. In reflection of the Women's Luncheon, here are some ways to plan the perfect event:

Unless you’re completely media-agnostic, it’s been impossible to avoid the images and video of a doctor being “re-accommodated” by airport police on a United Airlines flight in Chicago on April 9. The disturbing video showing a bloodied Dr. David Dao being dragged to the concourse infiltrated Facebook feeds, morning shows and websites everywhere.

Smart brands have discovered the power of influencer marketing. While they may not have given up on telling their own stories, businesses are trusting digital personalities to tout their products and services, because consumers are tuning out traditional advertising.